Freeway chase ends in Fallbrook crash

FALLBROOK —— A high-speed freeway chase ended with a dramatic,
televised crash Friday as a pickup taken during a carjacking
overturned down an embankment south of Mission Road.

Two men injured in the crash are suspected of carjacking the
white Dodge Ram pickup at knifepoint from an off-duty firefighter
after they crashed a stolen Chevrolet sport utility vehicle that
was being chased by authorities in the Wrightwood area of San
Bernardino County, California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Stromer
said.

The crash that ended the long pursuit happened when the driver
lost control as he tried to swerve around a spike strip CHP
officers had placed across southbound Interstate 15 near Mission
Road in Fallbrook, Stromer said.

The pickup had lost its right-front and -rear tires earlier in
the pursuit, after they were flattened by spike strips laid across
the freeway by the CHP. The truck was traveling on rims at an
estimated 60 mph as the driver attempted to avoid the Mission Road
spike strip, Stromer said.

The pursuit reached speeds of 90 mph after it weaved its way
into Riverside County around 4 p.m., officers said.

Much of the pursuit and the subsequent violent crash were shown
live on some television news channels as media helicopters tracked
the chase.

A passenger in the Dodge was thrown from the pickup as it rolled
at least four times before coming to rest on its wheels about 200
feet down the side of I-15. Its roof was caved in and the
windshield was smashed. The driver tried to flee from pursuing
officers, but was captured a short distance away.

Neither man, both of whom appeared to be in their 20s, had been
identified by late Friday.

North San Diego County fire officials at the crash scene said
the passenger was unconscious and was treated by paramedics. The
driver had an ankle injury, they said.

At 5:10 p.m., traffic in both directions of the freeway was
stopped so a Mercy Air medical helicopter could land in the
southbound lanes. Those in vehicles near where the pickup crashed
got out and many took photos with digital cameras or camera phones
as firefighters carried the injured men on back boards up the
embankment.

With four news helicopters circling overhead, the unconscious
passenger —— with his wrists handcuffed in front of him —— was
brought up first.

While first being treated on the freeway shoulder, the man's
eyes were closed. As paramedics worked on him, his eyes opened at
one point, but he never blinked. A short time later, he was taken
to the awaiting helicopter and flown to Palomar Medical Center in
Escondido.

The passenger was carried up the embankment and taken by
ambulance to the same hospital.

Stromer said both men will be arrested as soon as doctors say
they are medically able to be booked.

San Bernardino sheriff's deputies will be investigating the
alleged carjacking of the Dodge pickup, Stromer said.

Debris and tire tread from the badly damaged pickup littered the
freeway from Murrieta to Fallbrook.